Using Vacant Sites for Homeless Urged

FORT WORTH — More than 1 million vacant buildings could be rehabilitated to house the nation’s homeless, according to a study released Thursday.

Prepared by the National Institute of Building Sciences, the preliminary study calls for changes in zoning, building codes and financing to help the conversion of 1.7 million vacant buildings to low-cost housing.

Requested by Vice President George Bush and Congress, the study was prepared by a task force of building industry representatives and local, state and federal officials, said Fort Worth developer Herman J. Smith, who is chairman of the institute.